Happy National Physiotherapy Month!

May is National Physiotherapy Month! (NPM) This is a great opportunity to promote the profession within your workplace, hospital, community or network and spread the word about how physiotherapy can make you ‘Stronger’! As people venture out into their yards, onto the golf course and driving range, and out for recreational runs and walks, physiotherapists want to ensure that participating in these and other activities will improve personal mobility without injury or strain.

To celebrate, physiotherapists across the country organize activities such as fun-runs and walks, open houses at hospitals and clinics, informative booths at garden and golf shows, presentations at local community centres and more. This united voice brings power to the NPM message and focuses attention on the value of physiotherapy in Canadian healthcare.

How to Get Involved:

Put up a Poster
Check out our Stronger Posters our Set/Push/Get/Come Back Posters or login to CPA’s Member Site to download NPM specific posters.

Hand out Brochures, Information Sheets to the public, physicians, community health centres, etc.

Give a Talk - Find a classroom, long-term care facility, workplace, or event to speak at that might benefit from the expertise of a physiotherapist! (Contact calexander@opa.on.ca for help organizing an event)

Educate - Talk to your patients, the public, your colleagues to ensure people are receiving physiotherapy, delivered by a registered physiotherapist.

Advocate - Make an appointment to meet with your MPP to discuss the issues nearest and dearest to you whether it be auto insurance, physiotherapy outpatient closures or access to publicly funded physiotherapy. (Contact davidg@opa.on.ca for help meeting with your MPP)

Social Media Tools - Download our “Stronger” social media tools and use them on your website, desktop, screensaver and social networking sites!

Also, check out CPA’s Media Release and watch for news coverage in your area.

OPA has tools available to help you facilitate the promotion of your profession. Whether you require a poster, brochures, giveaways, tabletop display or booth – we will gladly help you in your promotional efforts.

Download your Material Request Form and fax it in or contact the OPA Office via e-mail at physiomail@opa.on.ca, or toll-free at 1-800-672-9668.

Most importantly share your stories with us! Remember to TAKE PHOTOS of your promotional efforts and send them to Joanne Nesseth at jnesseth@opa.on.ca for the next issue of Physiotherapy Today. The best submission could just win a prize…!